Senator Carla Nelson (R-Rochester) voted on Monday to support school safety and repair the flawed law that limited the use of School Resource Officers (SROs).

Despite zero incidents of SROs acting improperly, the 2023 DFL-controlled legislature and Governor Walz passed a new law that limited the ability of SROs to do their jobs. 

“It was shocking to see such a poorly vetted policy change and with no input from public safety experts become law,” Sen. Nelson said. “We must get School Resource Officers back into schools for the safety of all students and staff.”

The new law meant SRO contracts would need significant changes. This led to the removal of SROs in many districts, and the short-term impact was almost immediately felt as reports of violence at schools were shared widely. Just last week, an SRO was sent to the hospital after breaking up a fight. The new law was so vague and poorly written that the Attorney General stepped in to address the situation. Ultimately, saying it needed a legislative fix.

 Senator Nelson fiercely advocated for a solution to last year’s dangerous SRO rule. “My priority has always been to keep students and staff safe. I appreciate the bipartisan effort from legislators and stakeholders today to fix the damage from last session,” Sen. Nelson said. 

SROs play an important role in keeping students, teachers, and school staff safe. They help mentor students to keep them on the right path, as well as, refer them to helpful resources. There have been no reports of SROs harming students before the 2023 change.“I’m glad to report that the fix-it bill passed the Senate on an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 58-7. It will now go to a conference committee with members of the House of Representatives, where I am hopeful for quick concurrence,” concluded Sen. Nelson